Also 7–8 locus tree. [In sense 1 clearly f. LOCUST sb. In the other applications the identity of the word is somewhat doubtful, but the New World trees so called may possibly have received their name from the resemblance of their fruit either to the carob-pod (LOCUST sb. 4) or the insect itself.]
1. The CAROB-tree, Ceratonia Siliqua.
1623. Jobson, Golden Trade, 132–3. They haue likewise great store of Locust trees, which growing in clusters of long cods together in the beginning of May, growes to his ripenes, which the people will feede ypon.
1775. Ann. Reg., II. 92. A tree growing in Spain called … carrobe or locust tree … the fruit exactly resembles kidney-beans.
2. A well-known North American tree, Robinia Pseudacacia, having thorny branches and dense clusters of white heavily scented flowers; = ACACIA1 2. It is used extensively for ornament and as a timber-tree, the wood being very hard and durable.
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1550. Arbor siliquosa Virginensis spinosa, Locus nostratibus dicta. The Virginian Locus tree.
1676. S. Sewall, Diary, 28 Sept. (1878), I. 22. Brought my Brother John going so far as the little Locust tree.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 80/1. The [leaves of the] Locus tree, are oval leaves set on the stalk by short foot-stalks.
1775. A. Burnaby, Trav., 69. The pseudo-acacia, or locust-tree.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall (1849), 389. The house stood … in the centre of a large field, with an avenue of old locust trees leading up to it.
1892. Stevenson, Across the Plains, 8. Locust-trees … gave it a foreign grace and interest.
3. The COURBARIL of Guiana and the West Indies. Also, the West Indian Byrsonima cinerea and B. coriacea (Treas. Bot., 1866).
1629. Plantation St. Christopher, in J. Smith’s Works (Arb.), 905. Sugar Canes … also Masticke, and Locus Trees.
1693. S. Dale, Pharmacologia, 506. Gummi Animi … Locus vulgò. The Locust-Tree. In Nova Hispania & Brasilia oritur.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 221. The Locus Tree. It is a spreading shady tree, and found in many parts of Liguanea.
1796. Stedman, Surinam, II. xxiii. 165. We saw some very fine locust-trees, being eighty or a hundred feet high, and prodigiously thick…. The timber is of a beautiful cinnamon-colour,… its seeds, like beans,… enclosed in a broad light brown pod.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 542. This resin [animé] is obtained from the hymenæa courbaril, or locust tree.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 165. The Locust-tree (Hymenæa) of tropical South America … affording a very tough and close-grained wood.
4. New Zealand. = KOWHAI.
1872. A. Domett, Ranolf, VI. ii. 111. Feathery locust-trees o’erarched a little plot.
1898. Morris, Austral Eng., Kowhai. Maori name given to (1) Locust-tree, Yellow Kowhai Sophora tetraptera.
5. African Locust-tree, Parkia africana (Treas. Bot., Suppl., 1874). Bastard Locust-tree of the West Indies, Clethra tinifolia. Honey Locust-tree, a North American ornamental tree, Gleditschia triacanthos. Swamp or Water Locust-tree, G. monosperma (Treas. Bot., 1866).
1725. Sloane, Jamaica, II. 86. Bastard Locust-tree. The berries are ripe in August.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Locust-tree, Honey, Gleditsia.
